New Bridgeland High School design focuses on innovation and student education.

NEW BRIDGELAND HIGH SCHOOL DESIGN IS CUTTING-EDGE ININNOVATION AND EDUCATION

Bridgeland High School is poised to lead the way in size, educational design and curriculum with a focus on collaboration, hands-on learning and early industry training. As part of the Cypress-Fairbanks Indepen­dent School District’s one million-square-foot, multi-campus site, the school will stand as the first four-story school and the tallest building in the district’s history.

Created to enhance learning experiences, the building will serve as an educational tool for students. Designed by IBI Group Archi­tects, the high school offers a chance to elevate the learning experiences of students through design principles.

“We’ve learned that a school’s design influences students’ educational experiences,” said Dr. Linda Macias, CFISD’s associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction and accountability. “At one time, classrooms were one-size-fits-all, but it will be different at Bridgeland High School.”

The high school will offer 48 flex spaces that will be used to enhance student collaboration. “Flex spaces simulate a real-world environment where students will have to work in teams for projects and demonstrations,” Macias said. “This allows us to tap into video conferences and distance learning, bringing in experts from all around the world into the classroom virtually.”

The unique and creative design elements can also be seen in the modular and multipurpose furniture, chosen by a committee of students, administrators and instructors.

The multi-campus site will also feature a three-story middle school and a two-story elementary school. When complete, the educational village will accommodate more than 5,900 students and teachers. For more information, visit bridgelandlife.com.

The rubby ducky of yesterday has gotten a major technological upgrade. Edwin the Duck is an award-winning, app-connected smart toy who is both fun and educational for kids and helpful to parents. Edwin can do it all – he can lead kids through an animated world of stories, games and songs; soothe children to sleep with his night light and lullaby; and even act as a waterproof swimming buddy during bath time.

Edwin has these great features:

Night Light: Bring your little one comfort with his built-in Night Light and Sleepy Time app. Set the light intensity or adjust the timer from another room using a mobile device. Edwin can illuminate a dark room for parents, too.

Thermometer: Toss Edwin in the bath tub and ensure your baby’s bath water is never too hot using Edwin’s Bath Time App. Enable disco mode to engage your child during wash time.

Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker: Play your favorite songs from your device or use Edwin’s seven bedtime sounds. Once enabled, your phone can travel out of bluetooth range!

Interactive Stories: Tap, tilt, and toss Edwin to help him solve puzzles, play games and sing-along with your favorite songs in free apps available for Apple or Android.

Hands-On Learning Games: Play games and solve puzzles without ever touching the screen. Edwin combines learning and game-play using technology that allows Edwin to control movements in the app.

Sing-Along Songs: Edwin’s built-in speaker allows him to make sounds during game-play and sing-a-long with original animated Edwin songs.

Edwin is a lovable sidekick for parents of preschoolers, toddlers, and newborns. The toy is the 2016 National Parenting Product and the 2016 Kids at Play award winner. For more information, visit edwintheduck.com.

Dawn Tryon, assistant principal at M. Robinson Elementary School, was named the new principal for Keith Elementary School on March 2. Tryon replaces Cheryl Fisher, who was named the incoming principal for Wells Elementary School in January.

Tryon has 20 years of experience in education, all of them in CFISD. She spent the first 11 years of her career as a math and science teacher in second and fourth grades at Adam Elementary School, earning Spotlight Teacher honors in 2007. She helped open M. Robinson Elementary in 2007 as an instructional specialist, serving one year before being promoted to her current role as assistant principal in 2008.

She has also served as the summer school principal at Lamkin (2015 and 2016) and Lee (2014) elementary schools.

Tryon earned her Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary studies from Southwest Texas State University and her Master of Educational Administration and Manage­ment from Prairie View A&M University.

“It is a privilege and an honor to be selected to serve and lead as the principal of Keith Elementary,” Tryon said. “I am eager to get started and to begin lasting relationships with the dedicated students, staff, parents and Keith community. I look forward to continuing the rich traditions and positive culture of excellence established on campus. I am thrilled to be a Keith Cougar!”

Ann Melancon, assistant principal at Birkes Elementary School, was named the new principal for Copeland Elementary School on March 3. Melancon replaces Michelle Rice, who was named the incoming principal for Hoover Elementary School in January.

Melancon has 24 total years of experience in education, including 20 years in CFISD. Her career began as a teacher in Lafayette Parish, La., for four years before arriving in CFISD as a PPCD and ESL teacher for first-grade language arts at Metcalf Elementary School. She served in that capacity for four years before transferring to Kirk Elementary School as a Reading Recovery and reading enrichment teacher for four years. Melancon then moved to Sheridan Elementary School as a small group reading intervention (SGRI) and reading enrichment teacher for three years.

She moved into a district administrative role as a curriculum coach for the SGRI program and pre-K through first grades, serving as a coach on 36 campuses for three years. In 2011, she moved to her current position at Birkes. She also served as a summer school principal at Duryea in 2016.

Melancon earned her Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and her Master of Education in educational administration from Lamar University.

“I love Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and am so thankful for all the opportunities I have had in this great district,” Melancon said. “I am thrilled and honored to be chosen to serve the Copeland family as principal and look forward to working with the awesome staff, students, parents and surrounding community in our continued pursuit of excellence.”

Chris Brister, defensive coordinator for the Cypress Falls High School football team, was named campus athletic coordinator and head football coach on Feb. 22. Brister replaces Kirk Eaton, who was promoted to CFISD associate director of athletics in January.

Brister has 21 years of coaching experience, 15 of which have been spent in CFISD. After beginning his career as a middle school assistant for one year in Galena Park ISD, Brister helped open Cypress Springs High School in 1997, serving three years as a varsity assistant. He then helped open Westside High School in Houston ISD in 2000, serving five seasons as a varsity assistant. He arrived at Cypress Falls in 2005, and was promoted to his current position following the 2009 season.

Brister was named Houston Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year in 2004 and was a Touchdown Club of Houston Coach of the Year finalist in 2004 and 2016. He won the Dr. Bill Farney Award for Courage in 2011.

“We are excited to promote Chris Brister to the position of campus athletic coordinator/head football coach for Cypress Falls High School,” said Ray Zepeda, CFISD director of athletics. “We look forward to seeing the impact of his leadership on the entire Cy Falls athletic department, campus and community.”

A Cypress native, Brister graduated from Cy-Fair High School and went on to graduate from Texas A&M University.